Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20
MORE FISHERY TROUBLES.
American Schooner illegally Charged
for Pilot Eees-Statement Of the Cap
tain Of the Perkins.

American ScnOOnefS 1lcB BAIly C06fRe0
for Pilot Fees-Statement Of the Cap
tain Of the Perkins.
HALIFAX, August 20-Eight American mackerel
seinlng SchoOners put into Halifax to-day for shell
ter. and the captains OF nve OF them got into a
little dispute with the port authorities about their
pilotage fees. 1t appears that these five arrived
on the harbor during the night, and not seeing a
pllot-boau came In without tie aid OF pilots. Some
OF the pilots, however, saw Them and the case was
reported to the customs officers. When the
captains went 10 the cuStOm-hOuSe yesterday al
ternOOn to clear for home they were Informed that
they must produce receipt showing that the
pilotage had been paid, else they would not be
given clearanceS The men felt that II was i'm
posing upon them, SO they consulted with Consul
General Phelan, who arranged to get them their
ciearances The case Will be inquired into. In
the meantime the necessary amount lies deposited
with the consul general, who will not pay it until
he Is satisfied that no Injustice has been perpe-
trated.
Capt. McDOnald's Statement.
Eight vessels with fares OF mackerel are coming
home from North Bay. The captains OF seven OF
the schoOners report having had no trouble with
Dominion cruisers, as they made every endeavor
to keep within the law and treaty regulations.
The eighth man, and the exception is Capt Nc
Donald, OF the j. II. q. Perkins, OF Maine, which
was seized at Souris, charged with Illegally ship
ping men. and released after a weeks detention.
him in heavy loss as it entirely destroyed his trip
and was at the same time very unjust.
HE VIOLATED NO LAW OR TREATY.
He declares that he committed not the slightest
violation of the law or treaty. and that the arrest
OF his vessel was based solely upon the unsup-
ported statement OF two unreliable men belong
ing to his crew who got drinking at SOuris, and
were coaxed into getting the schooner into
trouble. The men shipped by the schooner, he as
sertS, were four, who were received on board over
three miles OF Monticello. These men came on
board on a stormy night, when the only way OF
determining distance was by depth OF water
which was between 16 and 20; but this DEPTH the
anfaf a
limit at that point. He denies emphatically the
charge that provisions OF any kind were pur-
chased either outside or inside the limit, the only
foundation for such statement being that he re-
ceived present OF some potatoes from his brother
at the time the men were taken on board. When
he first arrived In the Gulf he went to Sour1s
where he asked the captain OF the cruiser Critic
and collector OF Customs Faley whether 1t would
be illegal TO take men on board outside the limit
CANADIAN OFFICIALS REFUSE IMPORTATION.
Neither OF these 0n1cerS would undertake to an
swer the question, but did not warn against doing
anything OF the kind. These facts were put into
writing at SOurtS and statements were sworn TO
by Capt. Mcdonald and by all his crew except the
two informers. Capt Mcdonald alleges that sew
mise the case, all OF which were without success
and at the end OF the week his vessel was released
and without any restriction being placed upon it
except that he was allowed TO take only men
enough 70 navigate the ship home TO Maine. Two
OF the men shipped on Monticello are still on
board. Before the release the captain was served
with writ calling upon him TO be ready to an
swer any charge OF treaty violation that might be
brought against him. and he instructed his solicit
tors to look after his case. Action Is brought un-
der the British act OF 1819 and the penalty Is Goo
The Perkins will proceed for home tomorrow.